LimeWire Music Site Goes Legit
Music file-sharing site LimeWire never enjoyed the popularity of its spiritual predecessor, Napster, but it certainly has enjoyed as much legal trouble due to all the swapping of illegally-copied music that takes place with its software (particularly on Macs). For example, the RIAA is demanding $150,000 for every illegally shared song on LimeWire, which we're sure would be an almost incalculable amount.
In response, LimeWire is attempting to clean up its act by announcing its plans to launch a new legal music download store (very much in the footsteps of Napster and even BitTorrent). The store will offer 256 kbps songs without copy protection and will offer both one-off purchases and a subscription service. Prices have yet to be announced, but regardless of how much it charges, LimeWire will have to attract more support from distributors and major music labels if it wishes to compete with iTunes, eMusic, Rhapsody, or the legit version of Napster. Currently only IRIS Distribution and Nettwerk Productions have struck deals with LimeWire, which may net you access to Chromeo and Barenaked Ladies, but, as they say, man can not live by novelty singles alone.
From BetaNews
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
jessie @ Aug 17th 2007 9:33AM
this is bullshit. limewire is supposed to be for free downloads of songs, not ones you have to pay for!
FUCKING BULLSHIT !!!!!!!!!
Mary @ Aug 17th 2007 9:40AM
Jessie, if you had written one of those songs, you would be singing a different tune about the "freeness" of it.
kelly @ Aug 17th 2007 10:33AM
WHO is the RIAA demanding the money from? The users?
Amesha C. Smith @ Aug 17th 2007 10:57AM
Perhaps I should care about the creative property of musicians, but I don't. There is so much greed in the music and entertainment industry. CD technology is almost 25 years old now and a new CD should not cost $15 or $16. As they sow so shall they reap. Since they were so greedy they are now suffering the consequences. I paid $26 two years ago and download anything I want on KazaaGold. That was cheap for a lifetime membership and I find everything I want to download. I have downloaded hundredes of songs fomr that site and I have not purchased a new CD in years.
lpfoofighter @ Aug 20th 2007 1:11AM
screw those rich motherf*ckers. they should get reduced down the common man's wealth level so they might just have a little more respect for us workin class folks. and, despite the beliefs those tightassed baby kissers at the RIAA, limewire's file sharing wont be hurting them as much as a misplaced quarter would hurt us. screw em, yall, keep stickin it to the man
coyote @ Oct 9th 2007 5:43PM
Personally, I haven't heard anything released by a major label in the last 5 years I would buy or even download. The labels hacks are trying to blame piracy on the weak bottom line when the truth is poor taste and lack of creativity on the part of the guys running the business.
I find Limewire useful for finding rare gems and unreleased songs posted by very creative musicians who have no contact with the RIAA.
greg @ Oct 9th 2007 7:12PM
What does RIAA really mean? Kickbacks come to mind, these so called artists are making money for a song they never wrote, but are making millions? Half of these artists are dead and gone, do they share the money with the famalies of the guy or girl who wrote these songs, maybe, maybe not...I'm going with, not one red cent. So who's stealing from who? Artists today are nothing but lazy, no good for nothing rejects who can't find a real job. They cry out that were stealing food from there babies mouth, but what there really saying is, there stealing coke from our noses. CD's today are marked up a 300 percent profit, who's the thief NOW!!